Flexible clothesline



March 31, 1964 w. G. VON MEYER 3,127,019

FLEXIBLE CLOTHESLINE Filed Aug. 17, 1961 Fla. 5

INVENTOR. WALTER 6. Wm Maven ATTORNE Y5- United States Patent 3,127,019 FLEXIBLE CLOTHIEflLINE Walter G. Von Meyer, 1504 Port Jefferson Road, Sidney, Ohio Filed Aug. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 132,205 10 Claims. (Cl. 211--119.13)

This invention relates to flexible clotheslines and particularly to a flexible clothesline of the type which does not require clothespins to retain the clothes on the line.

It is an object of this invention to provide a flexible clothesline which does not require clothespins to retain the clothes on the line; which is easy to stretch; which provides means for guiding the insertion of the clothing; which is relatively inexpensive; and which may be easily assembled.

Basically, the flexible clothesline embodying the invention comprises a homogeneous elastic center cord which is threaded through spaced holes in a band of material preferably having a lesser elasticity than the cord. The length of the band is greater than the length of the elastic cord and the ends of the band are fastened to the line so that in the untensioned condition of the line, the band assumes a sinuous configuration. When the clothesline is stretched between spaced points, the band is extended and clothing may be hung on the line by inserting clothes between the cord and the band by stretching the line outwardly relative to the band and releasing the line to hold the clothes against the band by its elasticity.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clothesline embodying the invention showing clothes on the line.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in the direction of the arrow 2 in FIG. 1, on an enlarged scale, showing the manner in which the clothes are inserted.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View showing a portion of the clothesline in the untensioned condition.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the band used in the clothesline.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified form of band.

Referring to FIG. 1, the clothesline 10 embodying the invention comprises a line 11 of homogeneous highly elastic material which is preferably tubular in cross section and a band 12 of a material of lesser elasticity than the elasticity of the cord 11. As shown in FIG. 5, band 12 comprises a plurality of spaced holes 13 which are of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the cord 11 and the cord 11 is threaded through the holes. The band 12 is preferably formed with a bead 12a along its edges. The ends of the band 12 and cord 11 are fastened to one another by looping the line as at 14 (FIG. 3) and turning the end 15 of the band over the looped end of the line. A clip 16 is crimped over to hold the ends together. In addition, a hooked metal bar 17 is inserted. To connect the end of the clothesline 10, loop 14 is looped around a suitable member such as a post hooked on hook 18, which can be used instead of the post.

The length of the band 12 is greater than the length of the line 11 so that in the untensioned condition of the line, the band 12 assumes a sinuous configuration as shown in FIG. 3.

In use, the flexible clothesline 10 is stretched between spaced points as hooks 18 to a length many times its length in the untensioned state. In this condition, the band 12 is extended, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In order to insert clothing, the band is grasped between holes 13, as shown by the dotted line hand in FIG. 2, and the clothing is inserted between the band and the cord 11. The flat width of the band 12 facilitates the insertion of 3,127,019: Patented Mar. 31, 1964 the clothing and the beads 12a assist in holding the clothing in place. It may be noted that since the band 12 has less elasticity than the cord 11, when it is pulled, a loop is formed and when it is released, the tension of the cord 11 and the band 12 against the clothing holds the clothing in position.

Where the line is heavier, the cross section of the cord 11 is preferably tubular in cross section. Where a smaller line is used, the cord 11 may be solid in cross section.

A satisfactory material for the cord 11 comprises a highly stretchable material such as para rubber, while a satisfactory material for the band 12 may be a vinyl plastic.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 6, the band 12' has portions cut out or scalloped as at 20. This construction may be advantageously used where a large and heavy band 12' is used to increase the stretchability of the band.

It can thus be seen that I have provided a clothesline which may be easily stretched to retain clothes in position without the use of clothespins; wherein the insertion of the clothing is facilitated by the flat surfaces of the band; which band is relatively inexpensive and easily assembled. A single main strand 11 is easier to stretch than multiple strand lines like that shown in Patent No. 2,3 18,375.

I claim:

1. A flexible clothesline comprising a strand of elastic material adapted to be stretched between spaced points, and a length of material having lesser elasticity than said strand, said length having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therethrough, said strand of elastic material being threaded through said openings.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said length of material is normally serpentine in unstretched condition.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said strand of material is tubular in cross section.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said strand of material is solid in cross section.

5. A flexible clothesline comprising a cord of elastic material adapted to be stretched between two points, a band of material of lesser elasticity than said cord, said band having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therethrough, said cord of elastic material being threaded through said openings whereby said band in the untensioned condition of said length of elastic material assumes a sinuous configuration, the ends of said band being fastened to spaced points on said cord of material.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein the cross sectional area of the openings in said band is slightly greater than the cross sectional area of the cord of elastic material.

7. A flexible clothesline comprising a cord of elastic material adapted to be stretched between two points, a band of material of lesser elasticity than said cord, said band having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therethrough, said cord of elastic material being threaded through said openings whereby said band in the untensioned condition of said cord of elastic material assumes a sinuous configuration, the width of said band being greater than the thickness of said cord.

8. A flexible clothesline comprising a strand of elastic material adapted to be stretched between two points, a band of material of lesser elasticity than said strand, said band having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therethrough, said strand of elastic material being threaded through said openings whereby said band in the untehsioned condition of said strand of elastic material assumes a sinuous configuration, the width of said band being greater than the cross sectional width of said strand of material.

9. A flexible clothesline comprising a strand of elastic material having a circular cross section, a band of elastic material having lesser elasticity than said strand, said band having a width greater than its thickness and greater than the diameter of said strand of material, said band being normally serpentine and having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therein, said strand of elastic material passing through said openings.

10. A flexible clothesline comprising a strand of elastic material having a circular cross section, a band of elastic material having lesser elasticity than said strand, said band having a width greater than its thickness and greater than the diameter of said strand of material, said band having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therein, said strand of elastic material being threaded through said 15 2,676,711

5 is untensioned.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 D. 88,081 Glock Oct. 25, 1932 315,698 Beach Apr. 14, 1885 1,172,937 Butcher Feb. 22, 1916 1,944,808 Reske Jan. 23, 1934 2,318,375 Copeman May 4, 1943 Jardim Apr. 27, 1954 

9. A FLEXIBLE CLOTHESLINE COMPRISING A STRAND OF ELASTIC MATERIAL HAVING A CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION, A BAND OF ELASTIC MATERIAL HAVING LESSER ELASTICITY THAN SAID STRAND, SAID BAND HAVING A WIDTH GREATER THAN ITS THICKNESS AND GREATER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID STRAND OF MATERIAL, SAID BAND BEING NORMALLY SERPENTINE AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED OPENINGS THEREIN, SAID STRAND OF ELASTIC MATERIAL PASSING THROUGH SAID OPENINGS. 